Getting Ahead
How to prepare your child for excellence in
the new GCSEs
At Wilmslow High School
S
How are the new GCSEs
different?
S Harder content
S Terminal exams – more to remember and exam-based
S No re-sits – students need to get it right first time
S New grading: 9-1 with 9 as a harder grade to achieve than A*
S Focus on literacy
S No separate KS3/ KS4 – students are on a flight path to GCSE
from Year 7
A recommended Baccalaureate
route
Core
E Baccalaureate
subjects
Facilitating Subjects
Mathematics
English Language
English Literature
Any 3 from the
following options:
Physics
Biology
Chemistry
Core Science
Additional Science
Computer Science
History
Geography
French
German
Spanish
Any 3 subjects
Whole
Curriculum
For breadth
Any 3 subjectss
from the E Bacc.
list or other
options
PE
PHSCE
RE
What does excellence in the
new GCSEs require?
S Practice hours: hard work in lessons and for homework
S Struggle: 80% learning
S Literacy skills: reading and extended writing
S Ability to memorise content
S Ability to apply knowledge to new contexts and abstract thinking
S Tenacity
How will we keep you
informed?
S Your child’s work:
i. Assessments to prepare students for GCSE
ii. Clear feedback from teachers
S Contact through your child’s planner
S Progress based reporting
S Appropriate grouping to ensure that your child is getting
the right level of support and challenge
Find out more
S Telegraph article GCSE reforms: explained
S 5 Parenting Strategies to Develop a Growth Mindset This is
aimed at primary level but has some useful tips that can be
applied to teenagers
S A scholarly article on the link between learning knowledge
and expertise: Inflexible Knowledge: The First Step to
Expertise
How will English GCSE be
different?
S No coursework – exams in Language and Literature after 2
years
S Literature exams will be ‘closed book’ – this means that
students will not be allowed to have the texts with them
S There will be no tiered entry – all students will sit the same
exams
S Language exams involve responding to sources including
C19th texts and varied writing tasks
What does excellence look like
in English?
S Accuracy/precision in written work
S Increased focus on extended writing tasks – exploring ideas
in detail
S Increased importance of spelling, punctuation and grammar
S Reading: all students should have an extra-curricular
reading book on them at all times
S At least 2-3 hours independent reading per week
S Organisation: ensuring that the correct equipment/books
are brought to lessons
KS3 Assessment
S Working towards ‘Mastery’ in different skills key to
excellence at GCSE
S Reading skills:
Writing skills:
1)Understanding
1)Writer’s craft
2)Inference
2) Organisation
3)Language analysis
3)Vocabulary
4) Contextual considerations
4) Structure
How you can help...
S Support your child’s reading: all students must develop the
tenacity to complete longer texts
S Spelling: we will put lists of frequently misspelt words on
the VLE. Feel free to conduct spelling tests at home!
S Literacy activities are available on the VLE
S Students will have a literacy booklet to revise from in school
– feel free to test their knowledge at home!
S Encourage your child to take pride in their work.
Find out more
S WHS recommended reading list: available to students from
the LRC and to all on the VLE
S BBC bitesize website
S Curriculum Digest
S IGE – free app for phones to help with grammar
How will Maths GCSE be
different?
S It will be more demanding:
S Increased volume
S Increased demand
S Increased exam time
S Fewer marks for lower grades, more marks for higher grades
S Greater emphasis on problem solving & reasoning
S Fewer formulae given
How will Maths GCSE be
different?
New grades 1
Current
G
GCSE
Current
Foundation
New
Foundation
Current
Higher
New
Higher
4
F
50%
E
25%
50%
D
9
5
C
B
A
A*
25%
50%
40%
35%
50%
Set 4 Grades
25%
50%
What does excellence look like
in Maths?
S Entering the maths classroom mentally and physically
‘prepared to work’
S Being confident and competent in basic maths skills.
S Completing homework to the best of their ability and
handing it in ‘on time’.
S Asking questions.
S Practise, Practise, Practise!
Find out more
S
www.edexcel.com/maths
S
Many differing resources on the VLE
S
www.mymaths.co.uk
S
Nrich.maths.org
S
Revision guide
S
Ask your teacher
S
Mr Hughes & Mrs Mackintosh available each lunchtime in the maths atrium.
How will Science GCSE be
different?
S Terminal examinations: at the end of Year 11
S Grades will change from letters to numbers, ranging from 9-
1
S No controlled assessment (coursework)
S More challenging, demanding content
S Practical work is placed at the heart of learning
What does excellence look like
in Science?
S The expectation by all that you work hard in lessons and at home
S You expect to be challenged by scientific concepts
S You are able to apply those scientific concepts
S Your written work shows care, thought, insight and dialogue!
S Concepts and theories are tested through practical experiences in
lessons
How will you know if Triple
Science is the right option?
S If you relish the idea of spending 9 periods a week in
science lessons
S If you get out of bed and think ‘great, I have science today’
S If you want to discuss such phenomena as why ice floats on
water when it’s a solid?
S If you are consistently producing work that is at or beyond a
projected GCSE B grade
Find out more
S Speak with Mr G Jones initially
S Speak with your science teacher
S Read the KS4 Course Choice booklet carefully when it is
published
S Talk as a family about your choices
S Visit our LRC to read our wide variety of periodicals
S ‘Whole Education’
S PE – healthy body….healthy
Preparing for
Excellence
mind
S PHSCE – personal
development
S Responsibility and
community: leadership and
volunteering
S Challenge: D of E
S Friendships/skills….‘X-tra’
S Enrich and experience:
educational visits
S Wellbeing: The Hub
S Work and life
ready…stepping stone
How do you
achieve
excellence?
S Everyone is different
S Do your best
S Make the most of your
opportunities
S Take risks
S Aspirations: aim high
S Passion and drive
S Don’t give up
S Listen to advice/feedback
S Learn from role models
S Believe in yourself
Do you have
a ‘can do’
mindset?
S Mindset matters
S Fixed mindset –
intelligence can’t improve
S Growth mindset –
intelligence is a quality
that can be developed
S Brain is a muscle….make
it stronger
S 3 steps to developing a
growth mindset:
1.
Learn, learn and learn
2.
Understand hard work is
key
3.
Accept setbacks
Fixed vs Growth…which are
you?
Year 12 reflections: ‘top tips’
Option process:
S “Think ahead”
S “Don’t choose based on teachers”
S “Choose a good mixture”
S “Don’t choose with your mates”
S “Find out what’s involved”
S “Talk about it……don’t do it on your own”
More student ‘top tips’
S “Don’t wait until Year 11”
S “Get a routine”
S “Put the phone away!”
S “Worth working hard….but have a life”
S “Get organised!”
S “You need sleep”
S “Don’t be scared to ask for help”
S “Don’t look back with regret….can’t do it again”
S “Get involved in other stuff….more to school than exams”
Find out more
S Mindset: how you can fulfil your potential (Carol Dweck)
S Outliers: the science of success (Malcolm Gladwell)
S The genius in us all: why everything you’ve been told aout
genetics, talent and IQ is wrong (David Shenk)
S Drive: the surprising truth about what motivates us (Daniel
Pink TED Talk)
S Bounce: the myth of talent and the power of practice
(Matthew Syed)
What can you do to help your
child?
S Practice hours: Ensure that your child is putting in the homework
S
S
S
S
S
hours
Struggle: Check that your child is in the ‘struggle zone’ with their
work and encourage them to do it for themselves
Literacy skills: reading and extended writing: the more reading,
writing and vocabulary work your child is doing the better
Ability to memorise content: Attend our Parental Learning
Evening on developing memory capacity
Ability to apply knowledge to new contexts and abstract thinking:
Encourage your child to use a Thinking Journal to connect
learning
Tenacity: Encourage your child to keep going – organisation is
vital – they need to be punctual and prepared for learning
What if you have any concerns
about your child’s progress
S Speak to the appropriate person tonight
S Contact us at the school:
Form tutor
ii. Head of House
iii. Subject Teacher
iv. Subject CTL
v. SENCO
vi. Deputy Headteacher
i.
What next?
S Parent Voice: What else do you need from us?
S Aspirations Programme
S Parent Learning Evening on building memory capacity
S Options Process will begin…
S High Notes